They make you fat…and they aren’t food!

What do new car smell, your favorite fragrance, and a plastic bottle have in common? Well, while it sounds like a bad joke, it is quite serious. Each of these and many other common products contain substances called obesogens. That’s right, chemicals that initiate or propagate obesity. Of course, diet and exercise are still real contributors to weight, but the body composition equation runs a coefficient of hormone balance and obesogens disrupt hormone balance….sometimes in a big way!  And don’t think that just because you maintain healthy body weight that this doesn’t apply to you. Obesogens are endocrine disruptors and are the same chemicals that contribute to hormone issues such polycystic ovarian syndrome, amenorrhea, low testosterone, infertility, increased perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms, and certain cancers regardless of what the scale says.

Plasticizers leach from carpets and newly installed car interiors, thus providing that ever so pungent new car smell. In fact, when working with a hormone imbalance patient, I ask questions about exposure to new carpets and cars and after the weird looks, I get the story and excitement of a new “thing”, and then another weird look. Although, more often than not symptoms started or got worse after the new purchase.

If you’re thinking this is just another made up term to scare us or another excuse to rationalize dietary indiscretion, you would be misinformed. Obesogen is a term first coined in 2002 and since then has been cited in 19 peer-reviewed articles, with 6 of those published in 2011 and 4 already in 2012. It is gaining understanding and isn’t going away.

Much like we are learning that certain phytonutrients speak directly to our own genetic material, the hypothalamus, our master gland, and may either potentiate or interfere with enzymes, so too do these environmental chemicals.

The following are four truths as found in the Journal of Andrology:

• “Obesogens are chemicals that directly or indirectly lead to increased fat accumulation and obesity. 
• Obesogens have the potential to disrupt multiple metabolic signaling pathways in the developing organism that can result in permanent changes in adult physiology.
• Prenatal or perinatal exposure to obesogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals has been shown to predispose an organism to store more fat from the beginning of its life.
• This suggests that humans, who have been exposed to obesogenic chemicals during sensitive windows of development, might be pre-programmed to store increased amounts of fat, resulting in a lifelong struggle to maintain a healthy weight and exacerbating the deleterious effects of poor diet and inadequate exercise.”[1]

So it really may be true that some people are literally programmed to be fatter. However, that doesn’t mean that it is inevitable or uncontrollable. We are all dealt a different deck. Not all of us have the genetic material to be Olympic athletes and some that do, do not participate in the required training to compete, thus illustrating the contributions of both how we were made and what we’re exposed to. Where this becomes vitally important is during the reproductive years. Preconception programs often address helping moms-to-be and dads-to-be engage in healthy behaviors, optimizing hormone levels, improving detoxification, and reducing exposures to toxins. This is one such sensitive windows where obesogens can wreak havoc on metabolism…prior to conception!

The list of obesogens include phthalates also known as plasticizers are also found in personal care products such as shaving creams, colognes, and lotions, Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in plastic bottles and polyvinylchlorides found in shower curtains.

Recent changes at Whole Foods Market address possible concerns with obesogens. Dr. J. Renae Norton describes these changes in a two part series (Part I and Part II).

However, you can drive yourself crazy thinking about avoiding these chemicals. Most of them are released for absorption through your skin or ingested when plastics are heated. Avoiding hot plastics is a good step in the right direction but total avoidance is likely not possible with these nearly ubiquitous chemicals. Additionally, though, you can support the excretion of these chemicals through supporting liver, kidney, and bowel function on a daily basis.  Glutathione levels are perhaps most important if we zoom in single markers of the body. Glutathione acts as a free radical scavenger and also supports liver function. Without the bowel and kidneys functioning at their best, these chemicals cannot be eliminated. Supporting kidney function can be done with Sole therapy using Original Himalayan Crystal Salt and pH Quintessence on a daily basis. The pH Quintessence product also supports liver function, glutathione levels and bowel motility, making it a versatile and easy to use product. While obesogens may have programmed you to gain weight faster than normal and caused hormone imbalance, supporting the hypothalamus, the master gland, can help send the right signals to the right glands that need help the most while your body restores homeostasis. The hypothalamus talks to the pituitary gland and these two partners then communicate to the thyroid gland, pancreas, adrenal glands, ovaries, and testes. Natural Health International has introduced products for men well as different stages of life for women (Premenopausal, Perimenopausal, and Postmenopausal) to support comprehensive endocrine balance without introducing hormones from outside the body but rather supporting hypothalamus and pituitary function and all their downstream metabolic effects.

Obesogens are a serious chemical insult, but with some awareness of their effects, can be minimized and our bodies fully supported.

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[1] Janesick A, Blumberg B. Obesogens, stem cells and the developmental programming of obesity. Int J Androl. 2012 Feb 28. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2012.01247.x.

Tuning Metabolism: Melatonin’s Role in a Rapid Weight Loss Program

Most individuals following a medically guided weight loss program will lose weight. However, the operative word here is following. The number one reason why programs fail is poor compliance. The old adage frequently attributed to Benjamin Franklin applies “Failure to plan is planning to fail.”

Practitioners hear the excuses, “I’m too tired…”, “I’m too stressed….”, or “I’m too busy….” to plan and coordinate the right foods and exercises into my lifestyle to stick with the program. Even the simplest plans can end in failure due to a poor night’s sleep or perceived decreased energy during the day.

Programs can focus on reduced calories, increased activity, detoxification, or hormone balance. The best ones have a contribution from all of these and will also pay particular attention to the stresses that are placed on a body that is decreasing in total mass!

Most weight loss patients expect to feel better when starting a “get healthy plan,” but more times than not one or more predictable yet overlooked stresses derails a well-meaning patient and frustrates a well-intentioned doctor.  Most people feel a bit worse before they feel better.

Stresses on the weight-loss body include

• Changes in circadian rhythms 
• Oxidative stress 
• Toxic release from adipose (fat) tissue

Waking up early, going to bed earlier, or staying up later to accommodate a new lifestyle can be disastrous to the normal diurnal cycles that the body clings to for natural adaptation and survival. Any change (even healthy ones) to the status quo causes additional stress to the body in an attempt to restore homeostasis. Melatonin is the most commonly suggested therapeutic for entrainment of circadian rhythm. Most often studied in shift work disorders, jet lag, changes in season, and among the blind, little doubt exists between the connection between this powerful hormone and daily cycles. A 3 milligram dose is often used over the short term to correct for changes and ease the body into adapting to the new healthy patterns. If not addressed up front during a weight loss programs, many patients will seek conventional medical intervention for sleep such as prescription hypnotics. However, this can have potential ill results as reported in the British Medical Journal which associated these medicines with increased mortality. [1]

With melatonin’s reputation as a sleep product, many practitioners forget that melatonin is a powerful antioxidant that crosses the blood-brain barrier. Most patients have never even been introduced to this concept. Rapid weight loss patients may experience increased oxidative stress due to exercise, increased protein intake, and even reduced calorie intake can be seen by the body as an oxidative stress event. In fact, even healthy fats including fish oils which support the reduction of systemic inflammation can increase an individual’s need for antioxidants. Oral melatonin has the potential to reduce this oxidative stress load.[2] Melatonin at 0.3 milligrams can effectively be used for long-term support in the event that a rapid weight loss program is expected to take a longer time frame. For example, individuals needing to lose more than 30 pounds may require three or more months and low, physiological-dosed melatonin (0.3 mg) is appropriate for supporting this process.

Toxins, whether environmental or excess intermediate metabolites from normal metabolism, are often sequestered in adipose tissue to protect vital tissues and organs from free radical damage. During rapid weight loss, adipose tissue decreases in size (the desired outcome of the program), yet this eliminates valuable storage for these toxins. Weight loss releases these toxins into the blood stream and must be handled effectively. Fecal elimination must be supported as well urinary excretion. Liver support, antioxidant support, and bowel and kidney support are all necessary to safely and effectively master a rapid weight loss plan. When dietary antioxidants and alkalization are not enough, simple supplementation of pH-supporting greens and melatonin can be useful. In fact, melatonin has been used to support bowel motility among those with those further into the dis-ease state of irritable bowel syndrome[3] and pain in those with inflammatory bowel disease.[4]  

In the context of weight-loss, it is rare to find a patient seeking this type of support without other comorbid conditions. Addressing these personalized needs are key to success. Sleep challenges are pervasive affecting up to 30% of the population. Gastrointestinal disturbances and hormone and/ or stage-of-life related conditions also affect a majority of weight loss patients. Thus, using a combination of interventions to support hormone balance, gastrointestinal health, and healing sleep is simply good lifestyle medicine and prudent to support compliance in a medically supervised weight loss program.

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[1] Kripke DF, Langer RD, Kline LE. Hypnotics’ association with mortality or cancer: a matched cohort study. BMJ Open 2012;2: e000850.
[2] Reiter RJ, Tan DX, Osuna C, Gitto E. Actions of melatonin in the reduction of oxidative stress. A review. J Biomed Sci. 2000 Nov-Dec;7(6):444-58.
[3] Lu WZ, Gwee, KA, Moochhalla, S, Ho, KY. Melatonin improves bowel symptoms in female patients with irritable bowel syndrome: a double-blind placebo-controlled study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2005; 22: 927–934.
[4] G H Song, P H Leng,K A Gwee,S M Moochhala, K Y Ho. Melatonin improves abdominal pain in irritable bowel syndrome patients who have sleep disturbances: a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study. Gut 2005;54:1402-1407 doi:10.1136/gut.2004.062034

Maca and Sexual Function by Tori Hudson, N.D.

Maca is a traditional plant common to the Andes Mountains and has been used for centuries to enhance fertility, improve sexual function, improve energy and more. Maca (aka Lepidium Peruvianum and Lepidium meyenii) belongs to the mustard family and is considered an adaptogen—helping us to adapt to a variety of stressors.

A systematic review was done to assess the clinical evidence for or against the efficacy of maca for sexual dysfunction. The review included only randomized clinical trials comparing maca to a placebo in men or women with sexual dysfunction. Four randomized controlled trials (RCT) met the inclusion criteria. Two of these trials suggested a positive effect of maca on sexual dysfunction or libido in menopausal women or adult. One other RCT did not show effect of maca in cyclists. The fourth study assessed the effects of maca in men with erectile dysfunction and did show significant effects.

While the evidence is limited, there does appear to be some effectiveness of maca in improving sexual function.

For more blogs by Dr Hudson go to http://drtorihudson.com

In addition for more information on maca, men and sexual function go to http://www.naturalhi.com/Products/Macalibrium.aspx

Reference

Shin B, Soo Lee M, Jin Yang E, Lim H, Ernst E. Maca (L. meyenii) for improving sexual function: a systematic review. BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine 2010;10:44

Japan, Radiation and iodine

While we do not think this will be an issue a number of our customers have been ring up and asking about Original Himalayan Crystal Salt's benefit in relation to minerals and iodine due to the threat of possible radiation.

A lot of interest has been focused on iodine and iodine supplementation to prevent harm to thyroid glands and other systemic problems.

To give you a bit more information: Iodine 131 is released with radiation. Where ever a receptor for iodine is needed, there is susceptibility for Iodine 131 to attach and prevent "regular" iodine from binding.

It is important to note that Iodine supplements do not stop other effects of radiation. It only keeps iodine 131 from binding and causing the loss of function (mostly at the thyroid). Also certain people cannot or should not take iodine supplements. The following is from the Food and Drug Administration.

According to the FDA:
Adults – including women who are breastfeeding – should take 130 milligrams of stable iodine. Children aged 3 to 18 should take 65 milligrams. Children who weigh more than 150 pounds should take the adult dose, regardless of age. Nursing and non-nursing infants between 1 month and 3 years of age should take 32 milligrams. Nursing and non-nursing newborns should take 16 milligrams.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU TAKE IODINE TABLETS?

Most often a single dose of iodine – which protects the thyroid gland for 24 hours – is all that is needed. Officials may request that the public take a dose of stable iodine every 24 hours for a few days if radioactive iodine will remain in the environment for a prolonged period of time. Pregnant and breastfeeding women and newborns should avoid taking multiple doses.

RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS

When officials advise the public to take iodine pills following a nuclear event, the benefits outweigh the risks. Taking a higher dose than is recommended will not provide more protection and can cause severe illness or death. People with thyroid disease should take iodine pills only under a doctor’s supervision. General side effects include intestinal upset, rashes and inflammation of the salivary glands.

And that’s where the FDA stops.

Yes Original Himalayan Crystal Salt will be of benefit in relation to iodine but if it does become an issue you would want to look at an iodine supplement like Tri Iodine. Please note you only absorb about 10% of the iodine in iodized salt therefore do not look to that for your source.

But, iodine isn’t the whole story. Toxic metabolic products are generated under conditions of exposure to radiation (whole body reacting to radiation stress). PH Quintessence holds unique properties to purify blood from these unwanted toxins. With a blend of chlorophyll, beta carotene, and xanthophyll and 2.5% total potassium, pH Quintessence purifies the blood and aids in biotransformation or detoxification. http://www.naturalhi.com/Products/Quintessence.aspx

Hydration is also of paramount importance when it comes to radiation. Therefore, many customers have turned to Original Himalayan Crystal Salts for its ability to improve absorption of water into cells especially using Sole http://www.himalayancrystalsalt.com

One of the major side effects of therapeutic radiation is dehydration. Hydrating patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation has a lot of empirical evidence behind it. Patients, doctors and nurses all stress hydration and fluids during treatment. Patients ALWAYS know when they haven't had enough.

Radiation will cause free radical damage, some of which is dealt with at the cellular level, but the creation of toxic metabolites, involving the liver require hydration due to the detoxification pathways are mostly hydrolytic (use up water).

To further the detoxification concept, the kidneys, need adequate hydration to excrete toxic metabolites created by radiation or otherwise. N.B. Therapeutic radiation and nuclear radiation are very different, but beyond proximity to epicenter, hydration and general health status will be best predictors of an individual's outcome.

By Dr Corey Schuler DC, MS, LN

St. John's Wort and Menopause

St. John’s wort products and extracts have been used for a wide range of medical conditions, the most common being depressive disorders. The most robust research is in the area of mild to moderate depression, with some additional research in anxiety, severe depression, seasonal affective disorder, premenstrual syndrome, and perimenopause/menopause. St. John’s wort is the most thoroughly researched natural antidepressant, but the majority of these studies have not been conducted on menopausal women.

A study of St John’s wort liquid extract showed a statistically decline in hot flashes severity, duration and frequency in the SJW group compared to placebo at week 8.[1]

Another double blind randomized clinical trial demonstrated that after 3 months of treatment, women in the St. John’s wort group reported significantly better quality of life scores, and significantly fewer sleep problems compared to placebo. [2]

About ten years ago, a non placebo controlled, drug monitoring study was conducted in women with menopause symptoms using 900 mg of St. Johns wort for 12 weeks. About three quarters of the women experienced improvement in both the self-rating scale and the physician rating, and significantly improved in psychological and psychosomatic symptoms as well as a feeling of sexual well-being.[3]

The first of three studies using St. John’s wort and black cohosh was published in 1999. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial used St. John’s wort and black cohosh made by the makers of Remifemin.[4] The Kupperman index for the combination product decreased from 31.4 to 18.7 compared with a decrease in the placebo group from 30.3 to 22.3. Psychological symptoms also improved significantly in the black cohosh/St. John’s wort combination group.

A double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study was done using a combination trial of black cohosh and St. John’s wort. The mean Menopause Rating Scale score decreased 50% in the treatment group and 19.6% in the placebo group.[5] The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score decreased 41.8% in the treatment group and 12.7% in the placebo group. In both testing measures the St. John’s wort + black cohosh group was significantly superior to the placebo group.

Another black cohosh/St. John’s wort trial was carried out in peri or postmenopausal Korean women, and was published in 2007.[6] Mean Kupperman index scores at 4 and 12 weeks were significantly lower in the treatment group (P < 0.002). At the end of the study, the average decrease in the Kupperman Index was 20 points in the treatment group and only 8.2 points in the placebo group (P < 0.001). Vaginal dryness and low libido were two symptoms that did not improve, but the average hot flash scores were significantly lower in the black cohosh/St. Johns wort group.

Finally, a study was done in which a combination of black cohosh with or without St. John’s wort was used in 6141 women at 1287 outpatient gynecologists in Germany in a prospective, controlled open-label observational study.[7] The greatest changes occurred with the combination therapy for nervousness/irritability and mood swings, but in the area of depression, there was a reduction in both treatment groups.

St. John’s wort is emerging as an important clinical tool in treating perimenopausal/menopausal women—for hot flashes and/or depression and/or mood swings, as a single agent, or in combination with other therapies.

For more blogs and information from Dr Hudson go to http://www.drtorihudson.com

References


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[1] Abdali K, Khajehei M, Tabatabaee R. Effect of St. John’s wort on severity, frequency, and duration of hot flashes in premenopausal, perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Menopause 2010;17(2): 326-331.

[2] Al-Akoum M, Maunsell E, Verreault R, Provencher L, Otis H, Dodin S. Effects of Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort) on hot flashes and quality of life in perimenopausal women: a randomized pilot trial. Menopause. 2009 Mar-Apr;16(2):307-14.

[3] Grube B, Walper A, Whatley D. St. John’s wort extract: Efficacy for menopasual symptoms of psychological origin. Adv Ther 1999;16:177.

[4] Boblitz N, Schrader E, Henneicke-Von Zepelin H, et al. Benefit of a fixed drug combination containing St. John’s wort and black cohosh for climacteric patients-results of a randomised clinical trial )poster presentation from 6th Annual Symposium on Complementary Health Care, Exeter, England, December 2-4 1999). Focus Alt Comp Ther 2000;5(1):85-86.

[5] Uebelhack R, Jens-Uwe Blohmer, et al. Black cohosh and St. john’s wort for climacteric complaints. Obstet Gynecol 2006;107:247-255.

[6] Chung D, Kim H, Park K, et al. Black cohosh and St. John’s wort (GYNO-Plus) for climacteric symptoms. Yonsei Med J 2007;48(2):289-294.

[7] Briese V, Stammwitz U, Friede M, et al. Black cohosh with or without St. John’s wort for symptom-specific climacteric treatment- Results of a large-scale, controlled, observational study. Maturitas 2007;57:405-414.

Vitamin D and Ovarian Cancer Risk Reduction by Dr Tori Hudson

Women with ovarian cancer and control subjects were analyzed for their vitamin D status as measured by serum 25(OH)D3 level in 7,243 women from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES).

A high and low status of levels of serum vitamin D was defined as above or below 23 ng/mL (57.5 nmol/L). After adjusting for age, diet and body mass index, ovarian cancer cases were over three times as likely to have inadequate 25(OH)D3 levels compared with the controls.

Previous research has shown that vitamin D induces apoptosis in ovarian CA cell lines, ovarian cancer has been inhibited by vitamin D in animal studies and although studies are mixed–ovarian cancer rates appear to be higher in areas with less sun exposure.

Other research on vitamin D consistently observes that a long list of chronic diseases and cancers are associated with lower vitamin D status, with some showing risk reduction when levels are above 30 ng/mL, 40 ng/mL and even 50 ng/mL. Despite this large and growing body of evidence, the Institute of Medicine recently released its Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D based on a target level of 20 ng/mL and randomized controlled trials, rather than the cornucopia of observational studies. This resulted in recommended doses of 600-800 I.U. per day depending on age. As I stated in a January blog, it is too bad… that these observational studies were not considered, and once again, we may not have optimal prevention and risk reduction guidelines from our government agencies. Many if not most alternative minded practitioners are recommending a routine dosing of 2,000 I.U. of vitamin D per day, in individuals who do not have a history of kidney stones nor elevated serum calcium levels. However, most women will achieve a minimum serum level of 23 ng/mL (as stated in this current ovarian cancer prevention study) at doses of 600 I.U.-1,000 I.U. per day. A simple blood test will confirm. This would be a logical step in women with risk factors for ovarian cancer or a personal history of ovarian cancer.

For more posts by Dr Hudson go to https://www.drtorihudson.com

Reference: Bakhru A, Mallinger JB, Buckanovich RJ, Griggs JJ. Casting light on 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in ovarian cancer: a study from the NHANES. Gynecol Oncol 2010;119:314-8.

Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients by Dr Tori Hudson

A prospective observational study was carried out in 50 breast cancer patients on tamoxifen, an anti-estrogen therapy that can also induce or worsen menopausal symptoms. All 50 women were post surgery, 87% of them were post radiation treatment and approximately half of them had received chemotherapy as well. Each patient was treated with an isopropanolic extract of black cohosh (1-4 tablets, 2.5 mg) for 6 months. Symptoms were recorded before therapy and after 1, 3 and 6 months using the menopause rating scale (MRS II).

Results: The total MRS II score for women while on black cohosh treatment reduced from 17.6 to 13.6, a statistically significant reduction. Symptoms of hot flashes, sweating, sleep problems, and anxiety improved, but vaginal dryness and body aches/pains did not change. Twenty two patients reported adverse events, but none were linked with the black cohosh; 90% of the women reported the tolerability of the black cohosh extract as very good or good.

Commentary: This is one more positive study using black cohosh extract for menopausal symptoms and even more meaningful, women on tamoxifen can have more problematic menopause symptoms and so a significant benefit of black cohosh is especially needed. Readers will also want to be reminded that we do have safety data on black cohosh in breast cancer patients—there is no estrogen in black cohosh, no phytoestrogens in black cohosh, no ability to stimulate breast cancer cells and laboratory data showed that black cohosh inhibited proliferation of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cells and augmented the anti-estrogen effect when using black cohosh with tamoxifen. Black cohosh is clearly the first choice herb for menopause symptoms in breast cancer patients, and in breast cancer patients on tamoxifen.

Reference:

Rostock M, Fischer J, Mumm A, et al. Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) in tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients with climacteric complaints – a prospective observational study. Gynecol Endocrinol. 2011 Jan 13;

For more information about Dr Hudson go to http://www.torihudson.com